Major Changes Coming For Tourists Renting Motorcycles In Bali

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For tourists traveling to Bali, riding a moped around the island is something of a rite of passage.

For tens of thousands of tourists every year, exploring Bali by moped is a safe and affordable way to navigate around; however, for a small minority, it can result in life-changing tragedy. 

Bali has long been on a mission to make the island safer for tourists. With moped collisions responsible for some of the most devastating hospitalisations of tourists in Bali, leaders are looking to crack down on existing legislation and promote new best practices to help keep everyone safe. 

The Bali Police Traffic Directorate prohibits unskilled foreign nationals from driving motor vehicles alone. Speaking to reporters, the Bali Police Traffic Director, Senior Commissioner Turmudi, explained, “Foreign nationals who are unable or less skilled at using motorized vehicles, especially two-wheeled vehicles, are advised not to drive motorbikes alone.”

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He shared that the appeal goes out to both foreign drivers and motorcycle rental outlets across Bali. He noted that this is a cooperative effort to keep all road users safe. Commissioner Turmudi explained, “If you rent a vehicle, there must be a motorist to protect foreign nationals and our citizens who own rental vehicles to prevent problems.”

In 2024 alone, the Bali Regional Police recorded 142 traffic collisions involving foreigners. In relating this, it could be a lot higher, especially since many minor collisions do not get reported and are dealt with directly between those involved in the collision. Bali’s roads are getting safer, statistically speaking, as the 142 reported collisions in 2024 were a 35% decrease from 2023.

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While unable to reveal the figures for 2025, Commissioner Turmudi confirmed that there has been a decrease in reported collisions in 2025 so far. With all this in mind, what does this mean for tourists traveling in Bali?

It simply means that there will be stronger checks on tourists before they are handed the keys to their rented vehicle. It is already the case that all reputable motorcycle rental outlets will ensure that tourists provide a copy of their international driving licence, in addition to their passport.

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It is a legal requirement for any driver in Bali to have an international driver’s license that covers the exact vehicle that they are driving. For example, many tourists believe that their car driving licence permits them to drive a motorcycle, and this is not always the case.

Many car driving licences automatically permit a driver to drive a 50cc moped, but almost all mopeds in Bali are at least 125cc.

With this in mind, motorcycle rental outlets may also start asking renters to prove that they can drive safely before the rental agreement is signed.

This may mean that rental outlet staff supervise drivers on a short drive around the block or a car park to test that the driver knows how to operate the vehicle safely. 

For those who do not know how to drive a moped, there are two options available. The first is to hire a taxi from A to B. Motorcycle taxis, known locally as ojol, can be booked via apps like Grab or GoJek, or at taxi stands.

The alternative is to take motorcycle driving lessons while in Bali. Driving schools that cater specifically to tourists can be found all over the island. Canggu Scooter Lesson, for example, has outlets in Canggu, Sanur, Ubud, Uluwatu, and Kedungu. 

Over the coming weeks and months, tourists will also see more traffic officers stationed around the island. This is mostly to keep traffic moving, although traffic officers also conduct spot checks on drivers and vehicles, and also pull over drivers who are deemed to be breaking the law or driving dangerously.